Ross, Gibb advance to semifinals at Riverside

RIVERSIDE — Two players with local ties advanced to the semifinals after winning Saturday at the Assn. of Volleyball Professionals Riverside Open.

April Ross, the former Newport Harbor High star, is teamed up with Jennifer Kessy as the No. 2 seed. They defeated Annett Davis and Jenny Johnson Jordan, the No. 3-seeded duo, 21-12, 21-18, to move on today’s semifinals. The top-seeded pair of Nicole Branagh and Elaine Youngs also won and will play in the other semifinal.

In men’s competition, Costa Mesa resident Jake Gibb is in the semifinals with his teammate Sean Rosenthal. The No. 2-seeded duo defeated Matt Olson and Kevin Wong, the No. 6 seeds, 21-14, 17-21, 15-12, to move on today’s semifinals.

Hans Stolfus, a Newport Coast resident, is still in contention, playing to reach the semifinals in a contender’s bracket match today. Stolfus and Anthony Medel, the No. 14 seeds, take on the No. 8-seeded tandem of John Mayer and Jeff Nygaard. The winner will face Gibb and Rosenthal in the semifinals.

Stolfus and Medel eliminated Corona del Mar resident Ty Loomis and Casey Patterson, 21-19, 21-11, to stay alive.

Matt Fuerbringer, an Estancia High product, and his teammate Casey Jennings were eliminated in the contender’s bracket. The No. 3-seeded duo lost to the top seeds Phil Dalhausser and Todd Rogers, 21-19, 21-17. Dalhausser and Rogers take on Olson and Wong for the right to advance to the semifinals against John Hyden and Sean Scott.

— From staff reports